Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-27
CU 4 PIT Err Xf.
on THr HhINE.

JON auu2 ,hat the life Of q South hrri-
an 'm r caine well up 10 Ii, Expectations.
Tie hoc Jmll. occupations; indie ed, what be
-Ncer STITCHES, horses, cattle, sheep and
TOPS. he was rather over than under occu-
jied. Npr was be greatly troubled by the
.acR a. iylizad society, for he was a man
SHE reae great deal, and books could he or
}ercd 'r-m Durham and Cape Town, while
She weekly mail brought up an ample supply
II papers On Sundays he always read the
lohtico articles in The Saturday Review
lloUd I'D Silas Croft, who, rs hc got older,
c,and bat the print tried his eyes, and this
vas A. attention that the old gentleman
-reatv appreciated. He was well Informed
nan. aud bad, notwithstanding his long life
,nept ~ y half civilized country never lost
lis mold # affairs or his interest in the wide
lud rDshlug life Of the world in one of whose
,ide addiee he lived apart This tasl; Of reading
rhe S9rJrday Review aloud had formerly
pean = part of Bessies Sunday service, but
le~ pp,le was very glad to effect an ex-
fauga Dessies mind was not quite in tune
nth he profundites Of that journal, and her
,ttertiun was apt to wander at the most
oonteo passages. And thus it came about,
What a6Cween The Saturday Review and
the" 5hIrgs, that very warm and deep at
,achmenC sprang up betwixt the old man and
MS younger partner. John was very TAX
ing nan, especially to the old, for whom he
vas never tired of performing little services.
One ef bis favorite sayings was that old peo-
Die should be "let down easy" and he acted
up 10 It. Moreover, there was a quiet jollity
and bluf honesty about him which was I'M
1oubte1Jy attractive both TO men and women
But ais great recommendation was that he
;,,T1r md
gentleman in a country in which both were
rare Every week the old man got to rely
yaore and more on him, and let things pass
wore and more into his hands.
I'm getting old Mel" he said to him one
niqnt; "I'm getting very old; the grass
hopper is becoming burden to me, and I'll
tell you what it is, my boy" laying his hand
,Dectionately upon Johns shoulder, 81 have
so son Of my own, and you will have to be q
son 90 me, as my dear Bessie has been a
laughter"
,lchn looked up into the kindly, handsome
~ iaCe crowned with the fringe of snowy
nS1 and at the two keen eyes set deep in il
F3 ath the overhanging eyebrows, anC
sought of his old father who was long since
lsad; and somehow lie was moved and hi
awn eyes filled with tears.
GAY, Mr. Croft" he said, taking the ole
mans hand, that will 10 the best of m.
ability
@Thank you, my boy, thank you. / don
ike talking much about these things, but as
said, am getting old, and the Almighty ma.
require my account any day, and if he does
ray IN you to look after these two girls.
IS a wild country this, and one never know
7Enat may happen in it from day TO day, am
Ihey will want it. Sometimes | wish | wer
clear of the place. And now Pm going t
osl- am beginning to feel as though | ha
hone my days work in the world. Pm gel
sung feeble, John, that is the fact of it,"
After that he always called him John.
Of jess they heard but little. She wrot
every week, it is true, and gave an accurat
nncount of all that was going on at Pretori
axSi of her daily dongs, but she was one c
.ho,,se people whose letters tell one absolutel
sgcthing of themselves and of what is passin
an their minds, They might as well hay
.Jeen headed sour Pretoria Letter." as Bess
said, disgustedly, after reading three shee
IA Jess curious, upright handwriting. "OnC
you lose sight of Jess" she went on, "st
might as well be dead for all you learn abol
aer. Not that one learns very much whe
Sne is with one" she added, reAectively.
~She is a peculiar woman" said JOIN